Anderson says Lord's prayer

James Anderson took five wickets in the last Lord's Test © Getty Images

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Lord’s tends to be batsman-friendly these days but James Anderson still relishes charging in at the famous ground.

The last four Tests at the 'Home of Cricket' have finished in a stalemate with 14 centuries being marked up on the honours board in the dressing rooms, Kevin Pietersen scoring three of them.

The recent spell of sunshine looks likely to make the Lord’s wicket a batsman’s paradise once again.

The bowlers could be up against it from Thursday but Anderson can take heart from being the last bowler to take five wickets in an innings at Lord’s when he destroyed the India batting line-up to finish with 5-42, figures which included the prized scalps of messrs Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly.

“I have always enjoyed bowling here,” Anderson told ecb.co.uk. “It generally swings and the slope helps too.

“Lord’s is the home of cricket. Everyone gets nervous playing here. There is just a special feeling about the place. Most bowlers enjoy it here.”

The Lancashire fast bowler has been coming to the fabled ground for 12 years and, like most players, says each trip is just as memorable as the previous one.

Anderson bowls in the nets at Lord's ahead of the first Test of the international summer

“I remember coming here for the first time,” he added. “It was in 1996 to watch Lancashire in a cup final against Kent. Aravinda De Silva scored a hundred. I enjoyed that, but to come back here as a player made it even more special.

“If I get a chance on Thursday hopefully I’ll put in a good performance and cement a place in the side. I have started the season well with Lancashire so hopefully I can carry that on.”

Anderson’s displays in an England shirt at Lord’s have been impressive. He claimed five wickets on his Test debut against Zimbabwe five years ago and eclipsed that against India last summer.

His form dipped in Sri Lanka last winter, though, and he was relieved of his place after England were beaten in Kandy. But he came back for the final two Tests against New Zealand, helping his side win the series 2-1 after they had lost in Hamilton.

“They are a good side, especially in New Zealand,” said Anderson. “We did well to come back from 1-0 down to win that series.

“Obviously it’s going to be hard if you lose the first game of any series, but I thought we did really well in Wellington and to clinch the series in Napier was a fantastic effort.

“They are going to want to get revenge so we will have to be on top of our game. It’s going to be a tough series for us. We have to play well this week and hopefully come out all guns blazing on Thursday.”